3D printing focuses on COVID-19 protective shields

Monday, March 30, 2020

3D printers in the Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Laboratory are producing parts for face shields in demand by health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our lab quickly volunteered to help and we’re now part of a community group of companies and institutions that have banded together to provide free medical support and supplies,” said Ehsan Toyserkani, a mechanical and mechatronics engineering professor and research director of the MSAM lab. 

With materials supplied by Cimetrix Solutions Inc. located in Oshawa, the lab's printers are currently producing 40 to 50 engineered polymeric headbands and bottom reinforcements a day. 

Mihaela Vlasea, a mechanical and mechatronics engineering professor and associate director of MSAM, said the 3D printing of face shields demonstrates the benefits of digital manufacturing.

“A lot of the work can be done from home in terms of planning the build and setting up the machines,” she said. “The technicians just need to go in, hit the print button and monitor for the first few minutes. Then they can essentially go home and come back when the parts are ready.”

(Complete story)